New Mule Project

[Chuck W.]

Well, we've pretty much finished the museum mule, Rod has found a few leaks we need to fix before he puts the paint on it, but nothing major. I have another restoration job that should be here in a couple of weeks, so I thought this might be a good time to take a look at the "work mule" project carcass and get a parts list working. I didn't put it in the garage because I thought it would be a quick "replace the missing wheel studs" repair.......never fails!!



Found bad king-pin bearings in the left rear knuckle, but have a spare front axle assembly that I can rob parts from. I've got the shifter controls and foot basket removed for cleaning & repair. Pulled the transmission coltrol rods and spent some time getting all the bends and kinks out and freeing up the support links.


Here's the spare knuckle, hub, and axle shaft, cleaned and ready to install tomorrow.


Here's the engine for it, again, pieces and parts that I had laying around, leftover from other projects. Note the reproduction belt guard....I'm making them if anybody needs one.

I'm trying to keep the costs down on this mule, scavaging for pieces and parts that will work. There's going to be a lot of "non-standard" parts on this mule, but I'm going to try to keep it looking military! Stay tuned for more progress!

[PBragg]

Chuck,

The really neat thing here is there is going to be one less Mule in the boneyard rusting away. Kudos to you Chuck for preserving history and bringing this old Jenny back to life!

[Rod]

Question for you Chuckie.

Who gets to paint it?

[Chuck W.]

I know this guy who has mule painting down to an art form.......

[Chuck W.]

I'm waiting for a parts order from Bill, so today I decided to work on the bed. The steering cover and the gun mount cover were missing, plus the bed had some damage around the gun mount hole, and the steering brace socket had been torn loose. Since this is going to be a "work mule" I decided that the bed will be covered with a rubber mat, but I needed to fill in the holes. This mule will stay in 4WS, so I don't need access to the changeover pin, and I don't need access to the gun mount, so these holes were perminately filled with 1/8" aluminum plate.
I was able to salvage the steering column brace socket, so it was mounted to a piece of 1/8" aluminum plate whick was pop-riveted to the deck.

I cleaned up the damaged part of the bed and cut the new cover to fit.

[Chuck W.]

My parts order from Bill showed up this afternoon (check's in the mail, Bill!), so I decided to go ahead and get the left side wheels back on so I could move the mule out of the way if I needed to. Also took this opportunity to give the mule a good pressure washing.

[RParker]

So Chuck, this is how you plan to spend your time after retirement, huh?
Well, I guess it could be worse. At least your not collecting dolls or something like that.

[Chuck W.]

Hey, Russell! I'm working harder now that when I was working! Going to have to find a job so I can rest!

Well, it could be worse, I have a friend who collects wives, think he's on number 4 now, and the house "she picked out" has cost him 1/2 million so far!

Are you going to Peachtree City?

[RParker]

Chuck,
Your friend should take a hint from Louis Grizzard. He said the next time, he was just going to find a woman he hates and buy her a house.

And yes, I'm planning on going to Peachtree City.

[Chuck W.]

Today's project was rebuilding the bed rails. At first, I was just going to leave the rails off, but a mule just doesn't look like a mule without the rails, so I salvaged the mounting brackets and welded in new pipe. Still have to install the aluminum backer plates. Not sure if I am going to add the rear rail, if I wanted to take both mules somewhere, I'd have to double-stack them and this one would be on the bottom. Have to think about it some.

[Chuck W.]

OK, today's project was......cleaning out the shop so I can get this mule inside out of the sun and into a little A/C!!! Lord, it's HOT...104 today!

Next was building seat back pan:

Check out that new steering column brace from Bill Watson.


Hmm....need to make a call to Dave at WeeBee to bring me the seat canvas to the Peachtree City, GA rally next month.

and I went ahead and made a grab handle while I had the welder out:

Also, the controls have been rebuilt with new shifter rails from Bill W....smooooth shifting now

these are the fun jobs that I enjoy doing......I can waste a whole day making a seat frame!

Did anybody notice my AN/VRC-10 radio article in the latest Army Motors? Thought I'd toot my own horn a little!

[ccandgc]

nice job on the mule, and the article too! Nice handy work, both with a welder and the article!

chad

[atavuss]

Chuck, the rails look great! what kind of pipe did you use? how did you do the bends? the grab rail looks original!

[Rod]

Chuckie,

Good Job on your mule project. Not to hijack you post but -

I've also got another mule project going on. I'm working on a 1968 A5 that will be for sale soon.

I've replaced the following
-carb,
-exhaust pipes,
-fuel pump,
-fuel tank,
-fuel lines,
-vent lines,
-new blower,
-new sparkplugs,
-cleaned & timed the magneto.

I've added the following
-an electric starter,
-battery and battery box,
-ignition switch
-agressive tires.
-new canvas seat covers from WeeBee Webbing .

The engine runs like a sewing machine. I took the mule to the sandblaster yesterday to have it blasted. It will soon be painted and ready for sale in case anybody is interested.

If you want a reference for the quality of work on my mules, ask either Chuck W or Pbragg who post one here.

[ron alred]

CHUCK ARE YOU STILL INTERESTED IN WORKING ON MY MULE? IF SO I WILL BRING IT ONE AFTERNOON NEXT WEEK. THANKS RON
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